Baby jumper



Oct. 7, 1958 T. H. MEKEEL ETAL 2,

BABY JUMPER Filed April 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS THOMAS H. ME/fEL BY LELAND A CAMMACK Oct. 7, 1958 5 'r. H. MEKEEL ETAL 2,355,023

BABY JUMPER 7 Filed April 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTORS THOMAS H. ME/(EEL BY LELAND c/wmck j; I C A T TOHNEKS T. H. MEKEEL ETAL BABY JUMPER Oct. 7, 1958 2,855,023

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v INVENTORS THOMAS h! ME/fEL BY LELAAD z CAMMACK f7 L r C 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 'fiice 2,855,023 Patented Oct. .7, .1958

BABY JUMPER Thomas H; Mekeel and Leland I. Cammack, -.San Jose, Calif.

Application April-16, 1956, Serial N0. 578,250

'7 Claims. r (Cl.-1 55--18) This invention relates to a so-calledbaby jumper which isadapted for use'by comparatively-young children.

"Jumpers of1 the-character described-'arewknown in the art, and comprise -a seat frame for supportinga baby seat at one end,-being pivotally;mounted for rocking movement .intermediate its ends, -=and held by resilient means at the opposite end so that the baby' may amuse 'himself by rocking the seatframeagainsta the-action of -the resilient means.

Summarizing this-invention; it has as its objects, among others, the provision of an improved jumperof the character described 7 which is composed of :few "and simple parts, thus making for economy of: manufacture; is portable 'and collapsible whereby it can *befolded'into a compact space 1 wherein all 'the: parts lie in substantially the same plane, thus facilitating storage and;handling,

and which is of such construction enabling the babyseat .to be readily removed for cleaningand replacement after the parts vwith the jumper'in collapsed statepportions of the structure being brokenaway to disclose: the construction more clearly.

The jumper comprises a .base frame 2 desirably. of

generally rectangular shapeIand-formed ofilight metal tubing, to thus provide an open frame construction. Pivotally'connected-at 3 to side members .4 of the base2 area pair of support members-6; such support members "being connected'to the baseframe adjacent the front end thereof a littleless-than a; third ofthe-lengthof such base frame. Mounted for detachable. pivotal movement on support members 6 is a generally U-shaped-baby seat frame 7 closedat oneend -8. and open at the opposite end -9; the side legs .11 of such-seat frame being displaced inwardlyfrom-adjacent the open end of-the seat frame for a purpose to be later described. Frame 7 is desirably of light tubing.

For providing such detachable pivotaluconnectionof the seat frame, a support rod 12 having a head 13 (Fig. 4) at one end passes through apertures 14 in the upper end of support members 6 and through apertures 16 in legs 11 of the seat frame. When the seat frame is mounted on: the support members.6, a..wing nut 17 screwed on rod .12 opposite. tothe-head-end 13, holds the entire assembly together.

At the-same-timegseat' frame7 can rock or pivot-about-rod12-in the upright-position of support members 6.

1 larger diameter.

end at a-point about. one-fourth the length of such seat frame.

For holding support members 6 in an upright position and. the seat frame 7 in an elevated position, strut means 18 is connectable between such support members 6and base 2; the strut means extendingrearwardly from the support members to base 2. Such strut means may bear pair of relatively stiff rod members detachably connectable to the described parts when the seat frame is erected. However, in the-embodiment illustrated, each strut means comprises a link 19 pivotally connected to an upright support member 6'and also pivotally connected-at 20 to another link 21,.in turn pivotally connected to base2.

.Each linleZl has apin22 adapted to engage in a:slot 23 intthe associatedlink .19 in the set up position of the seat frame.

A special type of. baby seat 26 is removably mounted on theclosed end 8 of seat frame -7. This seat is desirably formed of any suitable strong flexible and washable material, such as plastic or cloth and at its upper endis provided with a looped portion 27 formed by a hem. Desirably, an apron portion 28 is provided to extend upwardly from the bottom of the seat. Looped portion 27 readily permits the seat to be removed from the open end of the-seat frame for cleaning or washing,

and also .tobe readily replaced.

Because of the open end 9 of the seat frame which permits ready removal and replacement of baby seat 26,

its..legs ll have a springeifect; anddetachable spacer meansis provided betweenlegs 11 of the seatframe .to hold such legs in position when wing nut 17 isv tight- .pair of spacer rods 32 mounted similarly to spacer rod .31. Spacer rods 32 are adapted to pass through-looped portions 33 formed by hems in the apronportion 23 of the seat, which includes an apronextension 34 to provide a shelf in which the baby may place toys or the like.

Rods 32 can be removed and replaced in the same man- ..ner as rod 31.

With reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the inward. displacement of the'seat frame legs 11 provides a space between each leg 11 and a base frame side member 4 in the collapsed position of the jumper, to thus accom- -n1o'date support member 6 within such space in the colfQrJdetachabIe connection between the front end. ofthe seat sframe opposite the babyseat and the frontend of the base-frame. Such resilient means comprises coil spring means 36. having an eye'3'7 at. its upper end connectedsover a bowed portion 33 on front spacer rod. 31, and a hook 39 at its lower end detachably connectable in an. aperture or similar attaching means. on the front end of base 2. Desirably, the coil spring means 36 is formed of coil spring sections of different diameters with section 41 of lesser diameter screwed into section 42 of Such arrangementprovides. means. for adjusting tension of the spring in accordance with the weight of the baby.

In collapsing the jumper, this can be readily done by unhooking hook 39 of spring means 36, and turning sup port members 6 in one direction rearwardly as indicated by the direction arrow D in Fig. 3, and simultaneously turning seat frame 7 in an opposite direction forwardly as indicated by direction arrow D. This enables the jumper to be collapsed with the seat frame lying Within the open area of the base frame and substantially in the same plane thereof, so that it can be very readily transported. Setting up of the jumper can be readily accomplished in a reverse manner.

When the jumper is set up, it will be noted that the length of seat frame 7 is such that it does not substantially overhang the ends of base frame 2 and the sides of the seat frame are located between the sides of the base frame. This, in cooperation with the rectangular shape of the base frame, provides for great stability in use. Only one element, namely wing nut 17, need be unscrewed when it is desired to remove seat 26 for cleaning. Hence, disassembly of the seat frame can be quickly effected. When the wing nut is unscrewed and support rod 12 pulled out, rods 31 and 32 are readily removed from legs 11 of the seat frame. Rods 32 can be quickly removed from seat 26 by sliding them out of loops 33 formed in the apron portion 28, and the seat can be quickly removed by sliding it off either of legs 11. Since only one wing nut 17 holds the entire seat frame assembly together, reattachment of the parts can be quickly and easily effected.

We claim:

1. A portable collapsible baby jumper comprising an open base frame adapted to rest on a support, a seat frame of a size adapted to fit within the confines of said base frame, support members pivotally connected to each of said frames and turnable in one direction from an upright position to a position adjacent said base frame, the seat frame being turnable in an opposite direction for positioning within said base frame, strut means connectable between said support members and said base frame for holding the support members upright with the seat frame in an elevated position, a baby seat supported adjacent one end of said seat frame, and means adjacent the opposite end of said seat frame providing attachment for resilient means adapted to be secured to said base frame.

2. A portable collapsible baby jumper comprising an open base frame adapted to rest on a support, a U-shaped seat frame having side legs, an open end and a closed end, said seat frame being of a size adapted to fit within the confines of said base frame, support members pivotally connected to said base frame and turnable in one direction from an upright position to a position adjacent said base frame, detachable means including a rod extending through the side legs of said seat frame and removable therefrom providing a pivotal connection of said seat frame with said support members, said pivotal connection enabling the seat frame to be turned in an opposite direction from said support members for positioning of said seat frame within said base frame, strut means connectable between said support members and said base frame for holding the support members upright with the seat frame in an elevated position, a baby seat of flexible material having a looped portion by which said seat is supported on the closed end of said seat frame, said looped portion enabling said seat to be removed from said seat frame by sliding it off a leg of the seat frame adjacent said open end, a spacer rod detachably connected between the legs of said seat frame adjacent the open end of said seat frame, and resilient means detachably connectable between said seat frame adjacent its open end and the base frame.

3. The jumper of claim 2 in which each of said legs has a portion displaced inwardly from adjacent the open end of said seat frame to provide a space between such inwardly displaced leg portion and a side of said base frame in the collapsed position of the jumper, and each of said support members is shaped to lie within such space in the said collapsed position.

4. The jumper of claim 2 in which another spacer rod is detachably connected between the legs of said seat frame adjacent the closed end of said seat frame, and said baby seat includes an apron portion removably looped on said another spacer rod.

5. A portable collapsible baby jumper comprising an open base frame having a pair of spaced apart side frame members and a pair of spaced apart transversely extending end frame members, a seat frame having a length less than the distance between said end frame members and a width less than the distance between said side frame members so as to fit within the confines of said base frame, support members pivotally connected to said side frame members and to the sides of said seat frame and turnable in one direction from an upright position to a position within said base frame, the seat frame being turnable in an opposite direction for positioning within said base frame, strut means connectable between said support members and said base frame for holding the support members upright with the seat frame in an elevated position, a baby seat supported adjacent one end of said seat frame, and means adjacent the opposite end of said seat frame providing attachment for resilient means adapted to be secured to said base frame.

6. The jumper of claim 5 in which said base frame is of substantially rectangular shape to provide stability, said seat frame is substantially U-shaped and has side legs, an open end, and a closed end, and each of said side legs has a portion displaced inwardly from adjacent the open end of the seat frame to provide a space between such inwardly displaced leg portion and a side frame member of said base frame in the collapsed position of the jumper whereby in said collapsed position each of said support members is accommodated between a side frame member and an inwardly displaced leg portion.

7. A portable collapsible baby jumper comprising an open base frame adapted to rest upon a support and including a pair of spaced apart side frame members providing an open space therebetween, a seat frame adapted to fit within the confines of said base frame in the space between said side frame members, said seat frame including a pair of opposite sides, support members pivotally connected between the side members of said base frame and the sides of said seat frame and turnable in one direction from an upright position to a position adjacent the respective side frame members of said base frame, the seat frame being turnable in an opposite direction for positioning within said base frame with each support member located between a side member of said base frame and a side of said seat frame, strut means connectable between said support members and said base frame for holding the support members upright with the seat frame in an elevated position, a baby seat supported adjacent one end of said seat frame, and means adjacent the opposite end of said seat frame providing attachment for resilient means adapted to be secured to said base frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,435,585 Coleman Nov. 14, 1922 1,458,077 Reid June 5, 1923 1,557,263 Millen Oct. 13, 1925 1,578,040 Kilmer Mar. 23, 1926 1,600,362 Reid Sept. 21, 1926 2,347,754 Shay May 2, 1944 

